Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Berberis Vulgaris Fruit on Acute and Chronic Inflammation in Male Rats

Inflammation is a side effect of many diseases that could yield immune system disability. The recognized acute and chronic inflammations are the main factors for permanence of infection and long lasting in recovery of disease. Regarding to incomplete treatment of inflammation by using chemical drugs and alkaloid compounds of barberry (berberis vulgaris) root bark such as Berberine that have strong anti-inflammatory property, in the present study, the anti-inflammatory effect of alcoholic extract of berberis vulgaris fruit using experimental methods is examined.

In this research as an experimental study, 86 male NMRI rats weighting 300-350 gr were chosen at random, and were divided into five groups: 1-control (only Evans blue), 2-sham (inflamed without treatment) 3, 4 and 5- treatment groups which received the alcoholic extract of barberry at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Each of groups was subjected to three methods in order to measure the acute inflammation (formalin injection to paw, xylane to ear and intraperitoneally received acetic acid), and one group was examined with chronic inflammation (implantation of cotton in groin border of rats). Finally in a complementary assessment, the analgesic effect of the most effective dose of extract was evaluated using formalin test.

Effective doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg of berberis vulgaris fruit extract could change significantly the light absorption of inflamed foot, from 0.1±0.03 in control group to 0.15±0.02 and 0.16±0.01 respectively (p<0.05). In addition, 300 mg/kg dose of extract, increased the light absorption of peritoneal fluid significantly from 1.43±0.1 in control group relative to 0.7±0.09 in experimental group (p<0.05). Chronic inflammation has decreased significantly from 33.4±2.14 in control group relative to experimental groups (20.11±2.27 and 24.15±2.84, respectively) (p<0.01, p<0.05). Finally, the late phase of chronic pain has decreased significantly by dose of 300 mg/kg from 1.79± 0.18 (control) to 1.25± 0.1 (p<0.01).

Our result shows that alcoholic extract of barberry in medium and maximum doses is able to decrease the formalin and acetic acid injection-induced inflammation in foot and peritoneum significantly and also can decrease an external body-induced chronic inflammation as well. In addition, the reduction of late phase of chronic pain in parallel with chronic inflammation suppression is considerable.